INTRUSION-MINIMIZING BRAKE PEDAL CONSTRUCTION/OPERATION

Construction

- U-shaped pedal

- Catch plate

- Secondary plate

Operation

During regular braking

• When the brake pedal is operated, the pedal force is transmitted from the U-shaped pedal to the secondary plate. Since the catch plate and the retaining pin restrict the U-shaped pedal and the secondary plate, the secondary plate is able to push the master cylinder push rod in and braking occurs.

During Intrusion-minimizing Operation

• In a frontal collision, the brake pedal is forced rearward by the rearward movement of the dashboard.

• Accordingly, the dashboard member interferes with the catch plate, causing force to act on the catch plate in direction A.

• Due to the input of force in direction A, a pivoting motion force acts on the pedal installation hole of the catch plate causing the part of the catch plate that restricts the U-shaped pedal and the secondary plate to be deformed.

• This results in the catch plate pivoting in direction B, and the U-shaped pedal being able to move in direction C since it does not receive any input force from the master cylinder side. Due to this, impact force to the lower body from rearward movement of the brake pedal is greatly minimized.